Identity

Here I sit trying to write a paper on the fluid identity of the Hutus and Tutsis distracted by my blog.  Usually my blog is one of those things I just go to to dump my recent thoughts on my readers (and also it helps put some form to them for myself).  While writing this paper my mind has been drawn to two events over the past week which in a way helped me a bit with my identity, or at least my direction.  I found myself when I was in High School thinking that identity was something that you based on whatever labels you stuck to yourself, whether those labels be from politics, religion, skin color, language, interests, hobbies, career, etc. I would watch political debates and anybody who changed their opinions based on new information would be called a flip-flopper.  It was as if once you made up your mind no more thought could be given to the idea, the decision had been made and you were stuck with it.  Thankfully now I understand the importance of being able to shift your position and even your identity based on greater experience and knowledge.